Mayor Parker's wager on Rockets takes a hit after Game 1 thriller, but NBA series has long way to go

Mayor Parker's wager on Rockets takes a hit after Game 1 thriller

Mayor Annise Parker and her bearded staff made a telephone wager with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf on the outcome of the Rockets-Warriors series.
Photo by Elizabeth Rhodes

Mayor Annise Parker's '"friendly wager" with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf over the outcome of the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference Finals between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors got off to a thrilling but rocky start Tuesday night.

The Warriors came back from a 16-point first half deficit to win Game 1 of the series 110-106 in Oakland, with Rockets starter Dwight Howard on the bench for most of the game with a knee injury.

But the series has a long way to go, with Game 2 Thursday night in Oakland before returning to Houston for two consecutive home games Saturday and Monday.

Parker called Schaaf on Tuesday afternoon from Houston City Hall while surrounded by her staff, as well as Houston City Council member Jerry Davis, all wearing Rockets shirts. A few staffers were even sporting beards.

"My suggestion is if, at the end of this series Golden State — as we expect here — doesn't make it into the next round, that you will help support the Rockets by wearing something that is actually quite popular here, which is a James Harden beard and T-shirt for a selfie," Parker challenged Schaaf.

Schaaf accepted the challenge, but with one condition: "When — not if — the Warriors crush the Rockets, you will take a selfie of yourself in a Warriors T-shirt with a Steph Curry mouth guard hanging out of your mouth."

"Is it one that he's actually used?" Parker quipped before agreeing to Schaaf's challenge.